Stabilizer for pivoted counterweights of bascule bridges



l June 8 1926.

l Y, 1,588,329 s. MURRAY y STABILIZER FOR PIVOTED COUNTERWEIGHTS OF BASCU-LE BRIDGES Filed Jan. e. 1925- 2 sheets-sheet 1 'I'June 8 1926.

1,588,329 4 s. MURRAY STABILIZER FOR PIVOTED COUNTERWEIGHTS OF BASCULE BRIDGES Filed Jan. '-6, .1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1926.

y N i UNITED STATES SAMUELivrunmnul or ro'n'iLAND, OREGON. a

STABILIZER- ron PIVOTED COUNTERWEIGHTS or BAscULE BRIDGES..v i

Application filed January 6,119.25. serial-Na eso.

My invention relates to bascule bridges of the Vsingle or double leaf type, .andy has particular reference to an improved form of stabilizer for the pivoted counterweights usually yemployed in such bridges for'balancing the weight of the bridgel span.

In the construction and operation of single or double leaf basculeV bridges, it has previously been proposed to employ a heavy counterweight at the shore end-of the bridge lfor balancing the weight of the bridge span andfor assisting 'the bridge operating mechanism in moving thebascule leaf about its :pivot or trunnions. In such constructions itis usually proposed to employ a pivoted cOunterWeight, and to so position this counterweight that the center of mass of the same is located above, below, or at, the'pcenter of the counterweight trunnions. In those bascule bridge constructions inl which the mass of the pivoted'counterweight is located below the center of the counterweight` trunnions, there is, ofcourse, a tendency for' the counterweight to remain in a true horizontal position throughout the movement of the bascule leaf to an open or closed position, butV here` the movement off such` counterweights about' their trunnions is due-tothe action of gravity, and notl to any,y director positive operating'mechanism'.` Itis often advantageousv to 1 position the counterweight at or above' the center of the counterwei'ght trun'nions, and in such constructions the movements: of the counterweight about its tru-unions must be -positi-vely controlled in order toV maintain=thecounterweight` in a horizontal positionvandfto' thus prevent the same from foulingior striking.l other portions of the bascule bridge structure;

An object ofi this invention. is to'lprovide al stabilizer' for the pivoted counterweights of bascule bridges, such stabilizer functioningfat all times tomaintain thesaid counter- Weight in' a true horizontal position throughoutjthe operation of the bascule leafI lfrom the open or closed position.

A further object of this,Y invention is to providev means for' mechanically 'interlockin-gzthe pivotedcounterweight of a bascule bridge construction withthe fixed supports of: the bascule leaf, so that whi'a'nfth'eleaf is moved about its trunnions from an open or closed f position, the pivotedA counterweignt will be maintainedv in y:a -trueifhori'zontal po'sitiem-andiwillhawaiianangulardisplaement vmov'en'i'ents.

equal to that-of the leaf but in an opposite Y direction.

-Axstill further 'object 'of' this' invention is to provide a device of this general charia-'eter thatfis simple in construction,'inexpensive to manufacture,v reliable in operation, and

highly efficient'V designed'.l f I Inthe accompanyingV drawings` forming part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed kto designate like in the purposes for'whiclh -parts throughout these'veral views Figure lfis 'a fra-gmental side elevation of one form of bascule bridge, showing a pivoted counterweight and my' improvedstabilizing device applied thereto, i p

Figure 2 is a planv'iew ofthe same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of aporti'on of the bascule leaf truss and'counterweighu showing a detailof construction, 2 y l Figure 4 is a side elevationfofa modified form .oflba'scule bridge, showing-,the counterweight mounted? aboveV the center of its trunnions, and Ishowing my improved stabilizing device applied thereto, and,

Figure 5 isjan enlarged fraom'entaljv view, partlyl iny section, offthaforin ofv bascule bridge and counterwei'ghtf stabilizer shown inl Figure 4L'. l 7

Referring to thed-rawings, whereinv for the purpose off' yillustration is shown. several preferred embodiments of ymy invention, the numerals` 1 a-nd 2 designate' the usual masonry standardfs'or supports fiXedat or near the shoreline, and having the" upwardly' extendingcoluinns S'andl, at'fthe upper ends `of which are'the main bearings-5 and 6: En! tending fbetwee-nffthe columns' Sand 4,-' and journalled withintlie bearingsfandf, a transverse shaft77 passingjthrou'gh the main side trusses Sand 9fofljabascule' leaf ofany suita'bleform', an'd constituting the pivot er trun'nions about: which the bascule lea-f rotates Vduring the opening ork closing 1 n1on gearing Y The rack and usually employed'fo'r operating'bridges of this character has been', omitted from ythe drawings jfor the salieof"clearnessl of .illustration. All of the abovegdescribed constructionof bascule: leaf and 4supports isold and well'fknownin the art and forms -no part ofv the 4present "i'n'lention. y;

Referring Vtof'the` disclosurer of Figures '1,

2 and 3 of the; accompanying ,drawing1 s,the

numeral 10' designates counteitfeigfli'tl "of said racks lying concentrically about the stone, concrete, metaly or other suitable material, made of sufficient size and weight to pivot or trunnions of the said pivoted counterweight. Y Y

Fixed bevelled segmental racksV v15 are Y rigidly secured to the inner faces .of the columns 8 and 4, the said racks lying yconcentrically about the main trunniony or shaft 7 ofthe bascule leaf or span. Bevelled gears or pinions 16 and 17 are keyed or otherwise secured to the ends of an interlocking shaft 18 lying on a line connecting the main bridge trunnions and the counter- `weight trunnions and mounted in suitable vbearingsl), secured to the outer sides of the main side trusses 8 and 9.V The bevelled gears 16 and 17 extend through suitable openings in the main side trusses 8 and 9 and operatively engage the segmental racks 14 and 15 respectively.k While I have illustrated the racks, shafts and pinions applied to both sides `of the counterweight, such double construction is not always required, andthe stabilizer will function equally well if the racks, shafts and pinions are attached to one side only of the counterweight.

Referring to the operation iofV the bascule bridge` and pivoted counterweight disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and specifically described above, it is obvious that as the kbasculefleaf or span is moved aboutits pivotal mounting from a closed or openv position,

' Ythe stationary racks 15 will cause 'a rotation of the pinions 17. The rotation im- ,Vparted to the pinions 17 will cause a .cor-

responding rotation of the' interlocking shafts18 and the gears orpvpinions 16, which rotation will cause the pinions 16, because of theirV =engagement with l the segmental racks 14, to move the Vpivoted counterweight about its pivots or trunnions. v ,Y Y

.Referring to they disclosure of Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a bascule bridgeconstructionin which 'theV center of mass of the counterweight is located above the center Vof the counterweight'pivot or trunnions, the overv head counterweightV 20' is supported above the plane of thermain side trusses 8. and'9 by means of suitable supports' or lstandards 21, the lower ends of which .are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft` 22, extendin between the main side trusses 8 and 9. fixed bevelled segmental rack 23 is rigidly attached to the standards 21. and is posi-l tioned coneentrically about lthe pivot or trunnions ofthe said standards. VA fixed ings 28, secured to'ithe outer facesfof the` main side truss 8. The bevelled gears -25 and l26 extend through suitable-openings in the main side truss 8 and operatively engage the segmental racks 23 and 24 respectively. While I have illustrated the racks, shaft and pinions applied to one side only of the counterweight, it is obvious that such mechanisms could be duplicated and theV stabilizer applied to both sides of the pivoted counterweight.

y Referring to the operation Vof the form of bascule leaf and overhead counterweight shown in Figures 4 and 5, and specifically described in the preceding paragraph, it is obvious that as the bascule leaf or span is moved about its pivotal mountingy from an open or closed position, the stationary rack 24 will cause a rotation of the pinion Y26, which rotation will cause a corresponding rotation of the interlocking shaft 27. Ro# tation of the shaft 27 will cause the pinion 25 to ride upwardly along the segmental rack 23 towmove the standards 21 andthe counterweight 20 carried thereby about the pivot or trunnions of the standards'21.

By selecting the proper gear` ratio Vfor I the several racks and pinionsdescribe'd in connection with the disclosures ofFigures 1 to 5 inclusive, the counterweights willhave the s ame angular movement about their -to remain in a horizontal position during the movements of the bascule leaf orv span; The stabilizer above vdescribed is, however,

vof great advantagein suchconstruction, as

it forms a positive connection between the movingbridge partsV and the pivoted counterweight and so controls the movement vof the counterweight that the swinging andY vibration 4of the bridgey structure will not cause erratic movements of V.the countera weight, andV will present thefsame from strikingv or fouling'Y other portions of the' movable bascule span or its associated parts. v

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. In a bascule bridge, the combination of a main bascule span, fixed supports on which the span is pivotally mounted, a rack Vsecured to the fixed supports, a pivoted counterweight carried at thev shore end of the span, a rack secured to the counterweight,

y and gearing interposed between the said racks for moving the counterweight about its pivotal mounting as the span is moved to open or closed position. v

2. In a bascule bridge, the combination of a main bascule span, fixed supports on which the span is pivotally mounted, a segmental rack secured' to the iixed supports, a pivoted counterweight carried at the shore end of the span, a segmental rack secured to the counterweight, and gearing interposed between the two segmental racks for moving the counterweight about its pivotal mounting tov maintain the counterweight in a horizontal position throughout the opening and closing movements of the bridge.

3. In a bascule bridge, the combination of a main bascule span, fixed supports on which the span is pivotally mounted, a segmental bevelled rack secured tothe fixed supports and disposed concentrically about the main span trunnions, a. pivoted counterweight carried at the shore end of the span, a segmental bevelled rack secured to the counterweight and disposed concentrically about the counterweight trunnio-ns, a bevelled pinion operatively engaging each of said segmental racks,'a1id driving means interposed between the said pinions for moving the counterweight about its pivotal mounting as the span is moved to open or closed position. Y

4. In a bascule bridge, the combination of a main bascule span, xed supports on which the span is pivotally mounted, a segmental rack secured to the fixed supports'y and disposed concentrically about the main span trunnions, a pivoted counterweight carried at the shore end of the span, a segmental rack secured to the counterweight and disposed concentrically about the counterweight trunnions, a pinion operatively engaging each of said segmental racks, and a shaft operatively connecting each of said pinions and lying in a line connecting the main span trunnions and counterweight trunnions whereby the movement of the span about its trunnions is transmitted to the counterweight to maintain the same in horizontal position throughout the opening and closing movements of the bridge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

SAMUEL MURRAY. 

